After the disastrous development of the wildfire in northeastern Attica, the president of SYRIZA, Stefanos Kasselakis, requested the immediate dismissal of the Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Vasilis Kikilias.
Specifically, Stefanos Kasselakis was at the Cultural and Sports Center of Nea Makri, participating in an action of “Solidarity from Below – Solidarity Everywhere” to support those affected by the major wildfire in NE Attica, and later went to the Patima of Chalandri, to the workshop where a worker lost her life when she was trapped inside by the fire.
Stefanos Kasselakis was informed by the Mayor of Marathon, Stergios Tsirkas, about the tremendous efforts of volunteers and residents to save homes and properties.
Political responsibility is determined by the results of political actions and political choices. For a fire to cross 40 kilometers in already half-burned Attica and to enter and burn urban areas, is something that suits Kabul and not Athens.… pic.twitter.com/jrflemh2S8
— Stefanos Kasselakis – Στέφανος Κασσελάκης (@skasselakis) August 13, 2024
“The spontaneous statement of a resident that ‘we saved ourselves’ highlighted the magnitude of these people’s disappointment with the results of government planning, which was supposed to take into account the real and particular conditions prevailing in the area and to take specific preventive measures against the outbreak of fire,” the statement said, while also relaying another statement from another resident, who said with “indignation” to the president of SYRIZA that we are “an unprotected country.”
According to the announcement, the mayor pointed out that “volunteers acted because they defied the message via 112 to evacuate the area, while adding that in practice, few accept it,” and at the same time, informed the president of SYRIZA-PS that “he also requested greater aerial support on Monday, as he did not see planes, but was told that there are problems in other areas”.
“The State must fulfill its aid obligations”
Speaking with those affected, Stefanos Kasselakis expressed the support of SYRIZA and assured them that he would stand by them so that the State fulfills its aid obligations within a reasonable time.
“This is the workshop where a female employee lost her life, in a suburb of Athens, within the urban fabric of Athens,” emphasized St. Kasselakis from Patima Chalandri, outside the workshop where the worker lost her life.
“Political responsibility is determined by the results of political actions and political choices. For a fire to cross 40 kilometers in already half-burned Attica and to literally enter Athens, is something that suits Kabul and not a European country. Not a European capital, not Athens,” said the president of SYRIZA-PS, emphasizing that “there must be an immediate dismissal of Mr. Kikilias by the Prime Minister”.
“Now is the time for accountability”
“This is the least that can be done at this time. It is self-evident. For everything else, the accountability that must exist from the entire government and primarily from the Prime Minister, I will address in the coming days,” he noted and concluded:
“For two days we stood by the volunteers and the heroes on the front line. We will always be beside them. Now is the time for accountability, and in our country, in our capital, what you see cannot happen after so much sweat, so much wealth, so much ‘blood’, that has been shed by the Greek people.”